Snuff box attachment



Sept. 1, 1937. I w, F, KNOX 2,092,219

SNUFFBOX ATTACHMENT Filed Oct. 11, 1935 Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to snuff box attachments, and the primary object thereof is to provide means associated with a snuff box for constantly retaining the snufi in a compacted mass,

thereby to retain its inceptive moisture, until depletion.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment of this type which may be easily and quickly applied to snuff boxes, and reapplied to fresh boxes.

The invention still further aims to provide a device of this type which is of simple and economical construction and which embodies a minimum of parts.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the invention with the cover removed;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1, with the cover applied, and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the invention with the parts in fully extended position.

The invention is applicable to a circular box having a body I, provided with a cover 2, and resides in a pair of members 3 and 4 of plate or leaf form which are pivotally connected at their inner ends by a pin 5, through the medium of knuckles 6 and 1 formed .on the respective plates 3 and 4, the knuckles being rotatably mounted on the pin.

A coil spring 8 surrounds the pin and has elongated ends 9 and In which are secured, for example, by soldering l l and [2, tothe plates.

The plates extend radially of the body and in width substantially equal the depth of the box. The plate 3 is formed with an extension l3 that is curved and conforms to the inner circumference of the body I, the upper end of the extension being bent outwardly and downwardly to provide a lip l4 that fits over the top edge of the body l to and clampingly engages the periphery thereof,

thereby to fixedly hold the plate 3 with relation to the body of the box.

In use the cover 2 is first removed. following which the members 3 and 4 are moved into enl5 gagement with one another and inserted in the body of snuff, with the lip I4 engaged over the periphery of the box as depicted in Figs. 1 and 2.

The cover is then applied and the box turned over and tapped upon its bottom to effect initial expansion of the two lips 3 and 4. As the snuff is used or removed from the box, and as shown in Fig. 1,

the leaf 3 being held fixed, the leaf 4 is moved about the pin 5 due to the action of the spring 8 thereby compacting the mass of snuff against the leaf 3, which action constantly occurs as snuff is removed from the box. In this way the mass of snuff in the box is held compact, thereby retaining its initial moisture. Fig. 1 illustrates the action supra, following the removal of a portion of snuff from the box.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing when the box is emptied the attachment may be removed and reapplied to a fresh box of snuff thereby enabling same to be continuously used.

In the use of the device in the instance of a circular box, as herein illustrated, it will be noted that the plates extend radially of the box and their pivotal connection occurs at the center of the box. Both of the plates have a length equal to the radius of the box, thereby assuring compacting of the contents of the box until entirely exhausted.

What is claimed is:

1. In a snuff box, a circular body, a pair of plates each of a length substantially equalling the radius of the body, means for pivotally connecting the inner ends of the plates disposed at the center of the body, spring means for urging one of the plates in a direction to compress the mass of snuff between the plates, an extension on the outer end of the other of the plates engageable with the inner circumference of the body, the upper end of said extension having a lip which engages over the top edge of the body and with the periphery of the body to hold said other of the plates rigidly in position, and a cover for the :box engageable over the lip.

2. In a snufi box, a circular body, a pair of plates each freely removable from the body of the box and of a length substantially equalling the radius of the body, means for pivotally connecting the inner ends of the plates disposed at the center of the body, spring means for urging one of the plates in a direction to compress a mass of snufi between the plates, means for removably but rigidly clamping the other of the plates to the body, and a cover for the box.

3. An attachment for circular snuff boxes composed of a pair of members each freely removable from the body of the box and of a length substantially equalling the radius of the body of the box, means for pivotally connecting the inner ends of the members, spring means for urging one of the members in a direction to compress a mass of snuff between said member and the other member, and means for removably clamping said first member in fixed relation to a snuff box.

4. An attachment for circular snuff boxes in accordance with claim 3, wherein the clamping means is composed of a lip which is formed to engage over the top edge and periphery of the box.

5. In a circular snuff box attachment, a pair of pivotally connected spring pressed members 5 receivable in the box and extending radially thereof and each freely removable therefrom, and means to clamp one of the members to the box so that the other member will hold the mass of snufi under tension against the first named member. 

